co-workers

waiting for webpages about the disability rights movement to load...

there are 15 people who work for KEDAN in three rooms - one with computers to do job training for disabled Kiberans, one for Fred (the head) and accountant, and one for program managers (and me! if there is a computer or space avaialble)

my coworkers
(1) analisse - an early 30's dutch woman who started along with me and will be here for 2 years helping with communication and fundraising. she is also awaiting the arrival of her husband (from the hague but he is from cameroon origionally), whose visa is being held up. a good litmus test for your country's general culture of crime and corruption, ive found, is how easy it is to get a visa (pak, afghan, cameroon, nigeria, nk = good luck)

(2) george kasera - very "smart" (thats the hip way to say dapper her) young man who runs a program but also sort of takes care of everything behind the scences. his brother is letting me live with him. for this and other reasons, im a fan. also, gets here earlier than me every day.

(3) kennedy - runs the star program, economic opportunities and empowerment. very down to earth and has a good laugh. cynical view on kenyan politics is most in line with mine. i write this on his computer.

(4) fred - head of the organization. very impressive man. wins all sorts of awards and things and is always travelling. has the sort of "lets get behind what he is doing" ethos that i imagine is essential to an organization/social movement without a lot of money

(5) raphael - very sociable and talkative head of HIV/AIDS program. facebook friended me within 15 minutes of meeting him. very eloquent on speaking about politics, though sounds suspiciously like the people i hear on tv the night before.

(6) jarvis - my favorite thus far. deaf man coaches the deaf volleyball team. full of energy. teaching me sign language. always quick to make fun of people behind their backs (sign language is good for that), though certainly in a good natured way. loves that i dont like death of animals

elizabeth - head of money. dont get to talk to her much, but she strikes me as powerful

steven - first to introduce me. extraordinarily nice. not entirely sure what his role is though.

young kid from nairobi u, who im not convinced actually does anything, but he seems friendly enough.

all in all a lovely group. i like them a lot better than the slow-ass computers at least.